Many First Responders Still Struggle To Communicate

After Sept. 11, there were widespread reports that public safety agencies responding to the attacks on the World Trade Center had trouble talking to one another. The problem: incompatible radios. It was a common challenge among public service agencies nationwide. Different first responders had different radios operating on different frequencies. Billions of dollars later, federal, state and local governments have largely solved that challenge. But many first responders still lack access to the kind of technology that many Americans carry on their waistbands or bags.